Radio Flyer Movie

At screenings, teen-age boys stood on their seats throwing punches at imaginary foes. They clapped and screamed and whistled their approval as the youth-oriented boxing film wound toward its conclusion. As they left the theaters, many people checked off 95 out of a possible 100 when asked how high they would rate the movie. But now "Gladiator" is a box-office flop, and Columbia Pictures is at a loss to explain why. Produced and marketed at between $20-$25 million, the film grossed only $5.

At screenings, teen-age boys stood on their seats throwing punches at imaginary foes. They clapped and screamed and whistled their approval as the youth-oriented boxing film wound toward its conclusion. As they left the theaters, many people checked off 95 out of a possible 100 when asked how high they would rate the movie. But now "Gladiator" is a box-office flop, and Columbia Pictures is at a loss to explain why. Produced and marketed at between $20-$25 million, the film grossed only $5.

Richard Donner crouches on his hands and knees, directing two giggly boys as they play with a dog holding a turtle in its mouth. The filmmaker is ready to capture this childhood magic, but suddenly, the German shepherd starts gnawing on the turtle. Veteran director Donner flashes a chagrined grin at cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs. On "Radio Flyer," where actors include turtles, frogs and a buffalo who adores Oreo cookies, controlled chaos reigns.

Richard Donner crouches on his hands and knees, directing two giggly boys as they play with a dog holding a turtle in its mouth. The filmmaker is ready to capture this childhood magic, but suddenly, the German shepherd starts gnawing on the turtle. Veteran director Donner flashes a chagrined grin at cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs. On "Radio Flyer," where actors include turtles, frogs and a buffalo who adores Oreo cookies, controlled chaos reigns.

To understand the new documentary "Screamers," you have to understand, first, about the 97-year-old man who lives in an Armenian old folk's home in Mission Hills. His name is Stepan Haytayan; he is the grandfather of Serj Tankian, the lead singer of System of a Down, one of the world's most critically acclaimed rock bands. Haytayan is a survivor of the first genocide of the 20th century -- the extermination by Turks of an estimated 1.